Traffic ballast system

ABSTRACT

A traffic ballast system has a base of a non-rigid, resilient, shock absorbing material, the base providing a top surface and a spaced apart bottom surface. At least one strut aperture extends through the top surface. A receiver plate of a rigid structural material is engaged with the base below the top surface. At least one vertical strut supporting at least one sign has a lower end engaged within the at least one strut aperture, and further rigidly engaged with the receiver plate.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to road signs and more particularly to a traffic sign system with interchangeable elements able to be adapted to various configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98

Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. D406,543 describes a traffic channelizer design. Bent et al., U.S. Pat. No. D412,131 describes a traffic channelizing system design. Alt, U.S. Pat. No. D419,901 describes a safety marking pylon design. Abrams, U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,428 describes a traffic guide post means comprising a post member and a base member of mutually interfitting relationship. Lyons et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,118 describes a signal device combining a fluorescent or phosphorescent light tube and a weighted base designed to be thrown or dropped from a vehicle as a warning marker. The light tube is preferably of the chemically actuated type and the base preferably has four resilient legs serving to ensure that the device will assume an upright position when dropped. Beard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,334 describes a traffic marker including an upright cone-shaped member and a base. Two orifices are provided on the upper end of the cone-shaped member and on opposite sides thereof A bracket is provided having an interior portion and an exterior portion. The bracket is operable to be inserted through the orifice such that the distal end of the interior portion contacts the interior surface of the cone-shaped member at a point. An orifice is disposed in the interior member through which a flag can be inserted. The flag is inserted through the orifice on the opposite side of the cone-shaped member through the orifice to contact the opposite sides of the interior surface of the cone at a point. Thurston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,791 describes a stackable road delineator including an upright conical portion with a detachable weighted base. The top conical end has a handle graspable by the fingers of a human hand. Also, this end has a conical hollow interior so that when it is stacked on top of another similar delineator, the handle will freely fit within this hollow interior to thus provide stackable delineators. Kulp et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,673 describes a safety delineator which includes a conical body portion to which is attached one or more vertical panels. A new and improved handle feature permits easy and comfortable full hand gripping of the delineator and also prevents sticking and jamming together of a plurality of the delineators when they are stacked. The delineators may be stacked without removing the vertical panels, since each vertical panel is particularly designed to wrap around the conical body portion to which it is attached as another vertical delineator slides over it. Ahn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,262 describes a basally adhered, self-recovering traffic lane delineator having a cylindrical post made of flexible material, having the air outlet and inlet on the center of its upper surface, and a supplementary support panel placed and adhered underneath the post. The support panel supports a lower part of the post and is adhered on the ground. Owing to its small package volume, the delineator is easy to move and safeguard. Bent et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,941 describes a traffic delineator including a cylinder and a base. The base has a hole therethrough to permit the cylinder to be inserted into the base and the base then holds the cylinder down. A grip is formed in the center section of the cylinder to increase ease of carrying the delineator. The cylinder may also include a handle and means for affixing traffic warning lights and flags. The base may include means for holding removable ballast. The cylinder is formed by blow molding. Eberle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,320 describes a free standing display panel with a foldable floor sign including an integrally formed handle portion and male and female hinge projections. The male and female hinge projections snap together into interlocking engagement with each other in response to simultaneous axial compression. The male coupling member includes a resilient finger portion and a latching head, and the female coupling member includes a cylindrical collar having a latch pocket and a radially stepped, inwardly projecting retainer. The resilient finger portion is radially deflectable in response to sliding engagement of the latching head against the retainer to permit the latching head to clear the retainer and enter the latch pocket. The display panels are stabilized in a spread-apart service position by a locking arm that is pivotally coupled to the display panels for folding movement within longitudinal slots formed along side edges of the display panels. Two or more floor signs are linked together by chains to provide a wide area barrier to entry.

Our prior art search, described above, teaches road delineators with conical and wedge shaped bodies, disc shaped bottom plates and flat panels mounted upright on the bodies, stackable construction, and of molded plastic materials. However, the prior art fails to teach a base with insertable upright for holding a sign, wherein the base is made of a highly resilient material and has an insert of a highly rigid structural material for securing the inserted upright. The present disclosure distinguishes over the prior art providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following summary.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

A road sign base is constructed of a high density, resilient, shock absorbing material such as rubber. It provides a top surface, a bottom surface and one or more strut apertures between them. A receiver plate of a rigid structural material such as structural grade polymer plastic is engaged with the base in proximity to the bottom surface. One or more vertical struts are received within apertures through the top surface for supporting a sign. The base provides adequate weight to support the sign in high winds while providing energy absorption should contact with moving vehicles occur. The receiver plate provides rigid surfaces for mechanical coupling with the struts. Struts of various shapes and sizes are able to be engaged with the apertures using adaptors so that the system is able to be adapted for various uses. A plurality of the bases may be stacked, one on top of the next, each nestling within the other, so that they may be transported without taking up excessive storage space.

A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a road sign base structure that is highly resilient upon impact yet has a relatively high weight density for temporary sign anchoring.

A further objective is to provide such a sign base that may be adapted to receive a wide range of sign posts or struts having different sizes and shapes.

A still further objective is to provide such a sign structure and system that is highly portable and compact in storage due to nesting features.

A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such drawing(s):

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a base of the presently described apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective separated view of a vertical panel, base and a flasher lamp thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the elements of FIG. 2 shown assembled;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of several bases shown stacked with each one on top of, and engaged with, each next one below;

FIG. 5 is a perspective separated view of the base with a receiver plate;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the components of FIG. 5 shown assembled;

FIG. 7 is a perspective separated view of the base with receiver plate and two alternative signs capable of being engaged with the base; a “stop” sign able to be inserted directly, and a “road work ahead” sign with an adaptor;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the components of FIG. 7 shown assembled;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the adaptor of FIG. 7 shown in an unfolded state;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the adaptor of FIG. 10 shown in a folded state; and

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the adaptor shown mounted within the receiver plate; the later shown in phantom outline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use.

The presently described apparatus is a traffic ballast system for supporting signs, reflective surfaces and symbols for directing and informing motor traffic. The apparatus is constructed of a base 10 whose material makeup is preferably one of natural or synthetic rubber but also can be constructed of any rubber-like material such as a rubberized plastic. Generally, this material is not rigid and therefore enables a supported sign to yield to contact with a moving vehicle. The primary objective here is to enable the base 10 to provide ballast in supporting temporarily placed signs effectively in windy conditions. The base 10 provides a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14 and a strut aperture 20, whereby the word “aperture” as used herein may take the singular or plural meaning. The aperture 20 extends into the base through the top surface 12 and may or may not extend through the bottom surface as shown in FIG. 1.

A receiver plate 50 is made of a rigid structural material such as metal or hard plastic. Plate 50, shown in FIG. 5, is engaged with the first base 10 using common fasteners as shown, and is positioned in proximity or in contact with bottom surface 14 which is preferably recessed. In one embodiment the receiver plate 50 is embedded within the base. Tube 52, integral with plate 50 extends upwardly therefrom and is inserted into aperture 20. In this manner, although base 10 is able to provide a highly resilient surface to traffic vehicles, receiver plate 50, being an insert into base 10 provides structural strength and rigidity. The combination provides the best operational features of both elements. It is noted that plate 50 provides recesses 54 on opposing sides thereof and it will be shown below how these recesses 54 play a functional part in the operation of the present apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 vertical struts 30 and 30′, which are preferably metal or hard plastic tubes or rods of substantial strength, support sign 36 and 36′ respectively at their upper ends 32. Struts 30 or 30′ engage tube 52 in base 10 at the lower end 34, by which the strut 30 or 30′ is held in a vertical orientation with the sign 36 or 36′ vertically spaced above the base 10 so as to be visible to motorists.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base 10 further comprises a set of plural surface protrusions 18 extending upwardly from the top surface 12 with preferably, one of these protrusions 18 located in each of its four corners as shown. The surface protrusions 18 each provide a hollow space 19 within and this hollow space or recess 19 is open to the bottom surface 14 of base 10. Therefore, plural bases 10 may be stacked as shown in FIG. 4 with the upwardly extending protrusions 18 of lower bases 10 inserted into recesses 19 in upper bases 10. To achieve this nesting of the bases 10, the hollow recesses 19 are tapered so that one of the recesses 19 will accept therewithin, a further surface protrusion 18 inserted into it.

As previously stated, the strut aperture 20 may comprise plural spaced apart apertures as shown in FIG. 1 where aperture 20 is flanked by two further holes 22, and the strut 30 may comprise plural struts 30 which are referred to here as braces 38 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each one of the braces 38 is preferably engagable within one of the holes 22 in the base 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The words “struts” and “braces” are used herein interchangeably.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holes 22 preferably comprise two holes 22 and the braces 38 preferably comprise two braces 38. The sign 36 preferably is mounted between the two braces 38. The braces 38 may be joined by horizontal member 39 for rigidity and each of the braces 38 preferably terminates at its lower end with a mounting insert 39 and adjacent thereto a vertical, flexible locking finger 39′. The locking finger provides a bulbous tip 39″ which, when the mounting insert 39 along with the locking finger 39′ is inserted into hole 22, the bulbous tip 39″ contacts one of the recesses 54 in plate 50. Because finger 39″ is flexible it is able to flex to one side allowing the bulbous tip 39″ to move downwardly past plate 50 and then flex back to the vertical. With the tip 39″ in contact with a bottom surface 56 of plate 50, the brace 38 is locked in place. Of course, the finger 39′ may be manually flexed to release the tip 39″ for removal of the brace 38 and the sign 36 from the base 10. As shown further in FIG. 2, the braces 38 may be joined near their upper terminus by cross elements for rigidity, and for holding a flashing lamp 60 of the type well known in the prior art. Such a lamp 60 is preferably mounted using common fasteners onto a flange 60′ integral with one or more of the cross elements as shown.

The strut 30 or 30′ preferably engages the tube 52 tight-fittingly as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively. Also, a tubular adaptor 40 may be engaged within the receiver plate tube 52 for accepting the strut 30 when strut 30 is undersized with respect to tube 52 so as to create a more secure fit of the strut 30 within the receiver plate tube 52 as shown in FIG. 12.

The tubular adaptor 40 is preferably comprised of plural strips 42 which are arranged in side-by-side juxtaposition and separated by margins 44; the margins 44 having a wall thickness less than the strips 42 so as to permit folding as shown in FIG. 10. Such thinned sections are discussed in the literature and are typically referred to as “living hinges.” The strips 42 are formable into a tubular shape by folding the strips 42 along margins 44. A set of plural tabs 46 are preferably placed on one edge of the tubular adaptor 40 and are positioned for being interlocking with corresponding open grooves 46′ located on an opposing edge when these opposing edges are folded into contact with each other as shown in FIG. 11. Flanges 48 are positioned at both ends of tubular adaptor 40 such that with adaptor 40 inserted into tube 52, the flanges 48 are able to grip a bottom surface of plate 50 as best shown in FIG. 12.

The base 10 provides at least one elongate hole 16 between the top 12 and bottom 14 surfaces and adjacent to a peripheral edge 11 as shown in FIG. 1. The elongate hole 16 is sized for accepting a hand for gripping the first base 10 about the peripheral edge. The combination of the peripheral edge of the first base 10 and elongate hole 16 is conveniently used as a handle for carrying the apparatus and for placing the instant apparatus on the ground when setting-up a traffic sign.

As shown in FIG. 7 a further adaptor 40′ may be used to enable the mounting of a traffic sign on a strut 31′ that has a round outer surface rather than a square one. Adaptor 40′ comprises a block with a hole 41 therethrough, wherein the hole 41, at a lower portion in the block is shaped to accept adaptor 40, while at an upper portion within the block it is round and sized to accept round strut 31′. In this manner, further adaptor 40′ may have an upper portion of hole 41 shaped to adapt tubular adaptor 40 for accepting struts that have round, triangular, hexagonal and other cross-sectional shapes.

The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.

The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.

Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be lo obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.

The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented. 

1. A traffic ballast system comprising: a base of a non-rigid, resilient, shock absorbing material, the base providing a top surface and a spaced apart bottom surface; at least one strut aperture extending through the top surface; a receiver plate of a rigid structural material engaged with the base below the top surface; at least one vertical strut supporting at least one sign thereon, a lower end of the at least one strut engaged within the at least one strut aperture, and further rigidly engaged with the receiver plate.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises plural surface protrusions extending upwardly from the top surface; the protrusions each functional as a recess in the bottom surface such that like said bases may be nested one above the next with the protrusions of one inserted within the recesses of the next.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the protrusions are each positioned in one of four corners of the base.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one strut aperture comprise two spaced apart holes and the at least one vertical strut comprises two vertical struts; and wherein the at least one sign is mounted between the two struts.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the base further provides at least one elongate hole between the top and bottom surfaces, the at least one hole positioned adjacent to a peripheral edge of the base, the elongate hole sized for accepting a hand for gripping the base about the peripheral edge.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver plate provides at least one tube integral therewith, the at least one tube of a rigid structural material and positioned so as to extend upwardly within at least one of the strut apertures.
 7. The system of claim 6 further comprising at least one tubular adaptor engaged within the at least one receiver plate tube thereby modifying at least one of the size and shape of the at least one receiver plate tube.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one tubular adaptor is comprised of plural strips arranged in side-by-side juxtaposition, and separated by margins having a wall thickness less than the strips, the strips thereby formable into a tube by folding each of the strips on one of the margins.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one tubular adaptor provides flanges positioned at, at least one end thereof such that with the at least one tubular adaptor inserted into the at least one receiver plate tube, the flanges are able to grip a bottom surface of the receiver plate.
 10. A traffic ballast system comprising: a horizontally oriented, unitary integral base having a top surface, a plurality of vertical standards engaged with and extending through the to surface into the base; the standards comprising a plurality of mutually distinct cross-sectional sizes and shapes.
 11. A traffic ballast comprising: a horizontally oriented, unitary, integral base having a top surface with a plurality of holes therein; the holes configured for receiving a plurality of mutually distinct sizes and shapes of vertical standards for extending upwardly from the base; at least two of the plurality of holes being spaced apart and of identical configuration. 